Permutation-lock.



No. 844,448. PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

L. B. GAYLOR.

PERMUTATION LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.5.1906.

UNITED STATES Pg ENT OFFICE.

LEONARD B. GAYLOR, or'BoSToN, MASSACHUSETTS.

PERMuTATuoN-tocK.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907'.

Application filed September 6,1906. Serial No- 333,314.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEONARD B. GAYLoR, a citizen of the United States, and-a resident in the city of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Permutation-Locks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a vertical sectional view of the invention, certain of the parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 illustrates a view of the interior of the lock, the faceplate having been removed. Fig. 3 illustrates a view of the interior of the lock-casing, the interior mechanism and the face-plate having been removed. Fig. 4 illustrates an v endwise elevation of the dog-lifting tumbler.

Fig. 5 illustrates a plan view of the lockingdog. Fig. 6 illustrates a plan view of the phonetic indicating-springs which coact with the tumblers.

A is the main casing of the lock.

B is the face-plate.

C is a spindle rota'tably supported by the casing and by the hub-like projection D, which forms part of the face-plate. The spindle is provided with a bit E and knob or thumb-piece F and with three grooves G. A-

metallic ball H or equivalent device actuated by a spring I, held in place by a screw J, engages with the grooves G in the spindle in a manner about to be described.

K K K are three tumblers. They each have notches in their peripheries (fifteen in each are shown in the present instance) and one slot M, adapted to receive the lockingdog. They likewise are provided with a recess or keyway N, through which the bit of the spindle may pass.

O is a plate of resilient metal (see Fig. 6) made into three separate springs, as shown, which engage, respectively, with the notches in the edges of the respective tumblers. They have sufficient stiffness to make a plainlyperceptible click audible to the operator and adapted to be physically felt by him through the spindle when they drop into the notches of the tumblers.

P (see Figs. 1 and 4) is what may be called a hollow tumbler. It has no notches on its periphery, nor any spring; but it has a recess Q in its periphery somewhat like the slots M, excepting that it is cut away on the left side, as shown. This hollow tumbler P sets in a chamber made in the hub-like part of the face-plate, as shown in Fig. 1.

R is the bolt.

S is the locking-dog pivoted to the bolt at T and provided with a transverse terminal piece U, which is adapted to enter the slots M in the peripheries of the tumblers.

The main casing A has cast with it a stop V, against which the dog abuts for locking the lock, and likewise an inwardly-projecting boss W, which is reamed out, as at Y, and in the cavity thus formed is set a fixed pin Z.

A spring a is supported upon the bolt R and engages with the lockingdog. S, as shown in Fig. 2.

The operation is as follows: The last preceding unlocking will of course. unless the partshave been disturbed, which is not supposed to have taken place, have left the tumblers in such position that the locking-dog R, or rather its terminal piece U, will rest in the slots M in the tumblers and likewise in the recess Q in the hollow tumbler P. Now, therefore, to lock turn the spindle and through it the tumblers to the right, thus pushing the bolt R into its locking position and bringing the slots M all directly on top. The spindle C by means of the knob F is then pulled out as far as it willcome, so that the bit E thereof slides through the keyways N in the tumblers K K K and through the hollow tumbler P. The spindle is then turned to the right, which results in turning the hollow tumbler in the same direction, because of the engagement of the bit on the spindle with the inwardly-projecting lug P on the tum bler, and this throws the terminal U ofthe locking-dog R upwardly, because of its engagement with the inclined side of the recess Q in the hollow tumbler P, thus lifting it out of the slots M in the several tumblers. The spindle is then rengagcd with the other tumblers and turned once or twice to mix them up. Now to unlock press in the spindle by means of the knob and turn to the right or left, as may be, until the bit on the spindle finds its way through the slots M in the several tumblers and entering the annular recess Y is turned to the right until its bit brings up against the stop or pin Z, thus establishing a starting-point for all the tumblers. N ow to secure the combination (for example, 547 pull the knob out .slightly until the ball H drops into the first groove G in the spindle C. This may readily be detected by feeling, beno cause theball'aetuatedbwspfingfiiiter tsei 'sv some resistance to the longitudinal-move turn seven clicks to the left which'lx'rings-thw slot: the tumbler K into.v registration...

movement" freesthe'= tumbler K, buts-leaves:

the tumblers K. and PK! in-engagement with; the bit E of the spindle. '.l enxtl'nnzfour clicks-to :the righti. The-slottofithe'atumbler K! 'is'zthus brought ".into KPFOPEI'T registration. 1 7 Then pull itheknob' out to the lastigroovefi, which frees the tumbieri-K-i, leaving-olrlyrther tumbler Kf "imengagementtherewith. Then Then "pull the knob all the way out. and give."

another turn to the ylett, which causesithebit E: to engage and ipartiallv'rotate the' hollow tumbler P "such manner. that the-recess -Q in it is also brought into registration with thee slots. in the: other tumblers, and the-terminal U of the..lockingdogthereurmn dropsarintoithem, and uponnow-turuingfihe. knobthe-v bolt will be shot backan'd the-lock opened;

It will of course; .be 'understood'stha-t when '1 the bolt-iR= .is-in its locked: positionzamd'; the". dog lifted loutof the; slots Min the tumble-rs that then thesdog abuts against .the'zend of the stop. V, thu sspreventing backward movee ment of thc'b0lt, and also that thiG-SlQtSLilE'fllBfl tumblers are so located relativeto the several.

springs O atithe time of ;making up the'corn bination asto. correspond withitheflnumberse of the combination.

The operation of unlocking; .as above '-de-- scribed, seems somewhat'complex, because" the SUCGGSSIVB actsand movements-'havezbeen described in detail. As-matteri of fact} how-- ever, it isexceedingly-simple, taking aiew sccondsonly to perform.

It is well knowntthat:with'butithreetum blers upward .of-one hundred =thousand com binations can be secured. Obviously, how-- ever; the invention can' be practiced with a.

less or greater number of tumblersza A=peculiarly valuable-feature of my-inven tion is thatm-y lock is-notonly of the keyless variety, so called, but'also its construction may be such that the spindlexand-knob or equivalent structure for "operating it I may:

be inclosed within" acupi-like recess in a-hub. or boss larger. than that shown in1tl1e draw-- ings, and thusbe protected against-accident; Another-peculiarly valuable feature isth'atkit is never'necessary to use thesense. ot sightin operating it; On the: contrary touch 2 and hearing, one or both, are: the only senses".

called'into actionduring thejoperation cf the:

lock. Thus'it isiadapted 17011286. in localitiesf;

where'zsuitablelight to. operate ordinary.

ermutaai'omlock-conld not be readily secured. This is a matter of consequence, befcaaiseiubt :only is it freqnentljyrnecessary to ope'ratethe look at night or in the dusk, but .alseimperhapsone-half the localities where such locks are desired SllflllCiBDt light is not ,available. Then pull" It'willbe obvious to those who are-familiar 'with this i art that extensive modifications .may be made in the details of mechanical construction and yet the-essentialsof ."thein ventiom be: retained; I. therefore do. not limit; myself 5 to; the-- details: described? andi shown...

1% Ina leek-1 ar longitudinally movable titted lspindle; independently rotatable sloteted andinetclied tumblers =zsupported on the.- spindle, adapted tomovementin-both direct--- tions; a fixed" st'opwhich:- determines the 8 5 starting-epoint ot tli e-tumblers, a bolt alock- 'ing-dog connected with the bolt' a-nd arranged i toenterthe slotsin the tumblers and BISPIlIIg-i' engages withithenotches in-eaeh time er:

2.2.111? a; look a. longithdinallyemovablex 'bitted spindle, independentlyuotatablefxslot ted *tum blerssupportem on" the's 'ndleeach: adapted :tounlimited rotation-in epen-dentlyofithecothers'irr-both directions; afixed stop: 9 5- WhiOlI- determines the starting-point; ofthe'= tumblers, a bolt and a locking-dogconnected with thebolt and' arranged to .enterthe' slots 'in; the tumblers.

3'.- In an lock 2; longitudinally-movable mo 'bitted' spindle grovi-ded with grooves; a. sgring -actuated evice adapted toengagein I t e coves; independently 'rotatableslotted turn lersz-sugported Olltll'QTSPlHdlG, afixed stop which etermines-the starting point LOf 1 o 5 the tumblers; a bolt rand. a= locking-dbgcarried' by thez 'boltiadapted to entertheslots in the; tumblers.

4.. Inc-a. look a longitudinally-movable bitted spindle ovided with grooves, as springwactuated evice'. adapted 'to engage-"in" the-grooves; independently-rotatable slotteda and notched tumblers supported-on the spine die, .a=fixed stop-which determines the start+ ing-point-of the tumblers; abolt, a locking dog connected with the-bolt and adapted to enter. the-slots-in the "tumb'lersr and a: spring wlhich engageszwiththe notches b er..

5. In. a locka...longitudinally-*movable. 12o bitted spindle provided with grooves',-. a fixed J. stop against=which the bit may strike, a d'eviceto engage'innthe grooves, and retard theav movement ofthe spindle, slotted tumblers adaptedto'rotation in both directions a-ub olt 1 2 5" and alockingedog carried-by the bolt:

6 In; a: look. as longitudinally movable-Fa bitted spindieipvovi'ded' with grooves; a fifxed '1 stop against-Which thefbit mews-strike, .a .de;-:- vicesto engagecin the groovessand retard ithe-113m inzeachtum= movement of the spindle, slotted and notched tumblers adapted to rotation in both directions, a bolt, a locking-dog carried by the bolt, and a spring which engages with the notches in each tumbler.

7. In a look a longitudinally-movable bitted spindle, independently-rotatable slotted tumblers supported upon the spindle and adapted to be successively actuated and left at rest by the rotation and stepby-step withdrawal of the spindle, one of which tumblers is provided with an open-sided recess ada ted to lift the locking-dog, the locking- 0g itself and a bolt with which the dog engages.

' 8. In a look a longitudinally-movable bitted s indle, independently-rotatable slotted an notched tumblers supported upon the spindle and adapted to movement in both directions, one of which tumblers is provided with an open-sided recess adapted to lift the locking-dog, the locking-dog itself, a bolt with which the dog engages and springs which engage with the notches in the trimblers. I

9.- In combination with a lock of the clas stated, a longitudinally movable spindle, tumblers supported upon the spindle adapted to be successively rotated in both directions and left at rest by the outward movement of the spindle and a fixed stop which determines the starting-point for the tum blers.

10. In combination with a lock of the class stated, a longitudinally-movable spindle provided with grooves, a device adapted to engage in the grooves to retard the movement of the spindle, combination-tumblers equal in number to the grooves in the spindle and supported by and independently rotatable in 0th directions upon the spindle, a fixed stop and a tumbler adapted to lift the dog likewise operated by the spindle.

1 1. In combination with a lock of the class stated, a longitudinally-movable spindle provided with grooves, a device adapted to engage in the grooves to retard. the movement of the spindle, combination-tumblers slotted for the locking-dog and having notches on their peripheries and equal in number to the grooves on the spindle supported by and inependently rotatable in both directions upon the spindle, another tumbler adapted to lift the dog likewise supported by the spindle, a fixed stop which determines the starting-point of the tumblers and springs for each of the combination-tumblers which engage with the notches in their peripheries. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEONARD B. GAYLOR. [L. s.] Witnesses:

JAMES E. POWERS, .WILLIAM N. KENYON. 

